Smooting out the bump: no more scrapes as council improves notorious intersection

By
DANIELLE CETINSKI

May 23, 2014, 3:30 a.m.

Motorists nursing scraped bumper bars and exhaust pipes will have a reprieve in the coming weeks

SMOOTH SAILING: Work is under way to remove the dip at the intersection of Hill and Margaret streets. Photo: STEVE GOSCH

MOTORISTS nursing scraped bumper bars and exhaust pipes will have a reprieve in the coming weeks, with the dip to be removed at the intersection of Hill and Margaret streets.

Work started in recent weeks to upgrade the intersection, and Orange City Council spokesman Allan Reeder said the first of two blister islands had already been installed.

“Hill Street is very wide at this point and these features, which add some more footpath about two metres out from the kerb into the roadway, will make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road,” he said.

But Mr Reeder said the road itself bore the evidence of motorists who did not notice the dip until it was too late and the council decided to take the opportunity to remove it.

“There are many marks on the roadway where drivers have scraped their exhaust pipes from driving through the dip too quickly,” he said.

“Humps on either side of the dip will be removed and the dip filled in, before the road is resealed.”

The dip was formerly used to move stormwater across the road, but the new design will divert the water along Hill Street and down the hill.

Margaret Street has been closed on one side of the intersection to allow excavation to begin, but traffic can still access Hill Street with traffic controls in place.

Mr Reeder said the work would take a number of weeks to complete, weather permitting.